Toronto to unveil proposed ridesharing regulations that could end Uber battle

Toronto’s long-brewing effort to bring Uber under municipal regulations appears to be nearing the endgame.

Municipal Licensing and Standards executive director Tracey Cook is to unveil proposed regulations for the ridesharing sector on Thursday morning.

The recommendations would then go to the Licensing and Standards committee on April 14.

It’s not the first time municipal bureaucrats have been tasked with solving the puzzle of how Uber should be handled.

READ MORE: New Uber PR campaign to sway city hall could backfire, expert warns

City staff were ordered last September to create ridesharing guidelines for UberX as the fierce battle between the Silicon Valley startup and the local taxi industry continues.

That happened after councillors looked over the staffers’ initial set of recommendations and sent them back to be revised.

Uber has launched a PR campaign trying to win over counsellors ahead of the pending vote. The rules would then be sent to a May council meeting for a decision that could be make or break for the company’s operations in Toronto.

The startup recently pulled out of Calgary after it called new ridesharing bylaws there that treated it like taxis too onerous.

Uber is calling for “smart” regulations.